Fire apparatus



July 7, 1931.

A. W. ORTON FIRE APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1928 a Mb BY ATTOW Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED {STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT ORTON, TOF UTICA, NEXT YORK, ASSIGNGIR T AMERICAN LA FRANCE AND FOAMIT-E CORPORATION, OF UTICA, NEW YORK, .A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK FIRE AIBPARATUS Application-filed January 24, 1928. Serial No. 249,004.

of such supply and more especially to pro-- vide a superior water control for apparatus for continuouslyproducing foam for fire extinguishing purposes as below explained.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 shows the invention applied to a foam gen- 9 erator of known-type. 'Fig. 2 is a'large scale horizontal section of'theshut-ofi 'valve. Fig. 3 a plan thereof. Figstaside elevation, and Fig. 5 a vertical cross section.

The referencel denotesthe feed hopper of a foam generator, such as disclosed in Palmer Patent No. 1,591,401, 2the body of the generator Which contains the injector, 3 the water supply line which receives water under pressure from a pump t or the like, and 5 is the deliveryor foam hose. The injector effect of the water flow throughthe generator draws the dry foam-making materials from the hopper into the Water stream making foam therewith which is delivered through the delivery hose, according to the process described in said patent.

The water admission is controlled by a valve 6 mounted in one end of the injector body and such valve is of the quick-acting type, which is to say, it is an ordinary plug or equivalent valve which can be opened or closed by a short handle-movement, as distinguished from those in which the handle or hand wheel must be rotated one or more revolatter are relatively slow of operation and if used with foam generators such as described, shut the water off so slowly that before the flow is fully stopped, a large amount of water will have passed upwards through the hopper dislodging its contents and spilling over on the ground. This results from the fact that the operation of foam-generating apparatus of the kind referred to, depends i entirely on the suction produced by the velocity of the water and if the water continues to flow after its velocity has been reduced below the critical point, the suction ceases and in consequence, the water flows out of the nearest escape which is the hopper. But if lutions in order to be opened and closed. The

the water flow is stopped quickly in accordance with this invention, the suction and the flow stop practically together so that the objection referred to is overcome. However, too quick closing of the water supply is also objectionable because the water may be supplied atpressures approximating 100 lbs., and

the effect of abruptly stopping such a flow is likely to cause damage to the equipment from the momentum effect, as will be understood. To avoid such damage the operating lever or handle 7 of the valve 6 is hinged or otherwise loosely connected to the slabbed stem 8 of the valve proper so that it maybe moved relatively thereto and in a lateral direction, that is to say, in the direction of the axis on which it turns. For this purpose it may be confined between a spring-pressed washer 9 and the valve stem nut 10, as shown, or in any other way. Its path of movement from open to closed position and'vice versa is prescribed by a slot formed in a bracket or quadrant 12, rigidly secured to or forming part of the apparatus or valve housing. Such slot forms a guide-way for the'handle and comprises a main portion 13, a cross-slot portion 14. and

a terminal portion 15, '(Fig. 3). The crossslot portion is transverse to the principal direction of movement or in the direction of the valve axis. lVhen the lever is in its full line position against the forward end of the slot portion 13, the valve is open this being the position of use. To close the valve, the handle is moved in the opposite direction through slot portion '13 as far as the junction with the off-set or cross slot 1 1. At this point the valve is about 90% closed more or less. To complete the closing the handle must be moved in a dilferent direction, or laterally through the cross slot 14 and then through andto the end of the terminal slot portion 15,'the whole movement being about 90. The change of direction incident to the presence of the cross-slot compels an interruption and dwell in the valve closing move ment, and by properly'locating the cross slot with reference to the valve ports and making it of appropriate length, it is practically impossible to close the valve so quickly as to cause objectionable shock or any injury to the equipment but yet it is quite easy to close it quickly enough to avoid objectionable entry of water into the feed hopper and, reversely, it can be opened with proper rapidity but with safety. The principal part of the valve movement, that through slot portion 13, is free and unobstructed so that the first stage of closing movement is done by a single rapid movement and practically closes the valve,

enough so that the following stage is completed without shock. It will be observed that the two stage operation, while most conveniently produced by a staggered slot as herein preferred, can also be produced in other ways which will permit a quick closing through the greater part of the closing act and compel a dwell before vthe closing'can be completed.

I am of course aware that valve handles have heretofore been controlled by staggered guide slots of various forms and for the purpose of permitting-or producing stage regulation of flow but my invention is distinguished from all such prior arrangements by thefact first that it applies to fire apparatus described and, second, that the major part and practically the whole of the closing movement, down to say 10% of complete closure or enough to avoid heavy shock, is not retarded, or materially retarded, and that the dwell occurs just before complete closing, thereby to permit thesafe use of quick-acting valves in fire systems. 7 I

Having described the invention, the following is claimed:

1. In fire apparatus, the combination with a pipe conducting liquid under pressure, a valve member therein havlng a handle rotatable through less than a complete revolution to move it from open to closed position, and means for controlling the movement of said handle permitting a free and quick closing movement thereof to a point of nearly com plete closure, said controlling means having provisions requiring a change ofmovea water shut-off valve in said pipe on the supply side of. said injector, having a valve handle movable in a vertical plane through less than a complete revolution to operate said valve from open to closed position, and means forcompelling a dwell in said movement when the valve is nearly closed.

4. In fire apparatus, the combination of a hose conducting water under pressure, a portable injector connectible to said hose for sucking dry chemicals into the water stream, a hopper to supply said chemicals, a quickacting water shut-off valve on the supply end of said. injector having a handle and means for compelling a dwell in the closing movement of said handle when the valve is nearly closed, thereby permitting quick closure of the valve without water-hammer effect. K I

5. In fire apparatus, the combination of a pipe conducting water under pressure, a gravity hopper containing dry foam-forming chemicals, an injector for sucking the chemicals from the hopper into the water, a quickacting water shut-off valve in said pipe on the supply side of said injector and having a handle and a path-controlling slot for the handle compelling a cross movement thereof when the valve is nearly closed and a corresponding dwell in the valve-closing move- -ment at that point, thereby permitting closure quick enough to avoid upward Water flow into the hopper but also preventing water-hammer effect on the pipe.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification. V I

r ALBERT l/V. ORTON.

ment of said handle and a corresponding dwell before the handle can be continued to the point of complete closure.

2. In a fire apparatus the combination of a hopper for dry chemicals, an injector, a

pipe conducting water thereto at its operating velocity, a quick-acting valve member for said pipe and a handle rotatable through less than a complete revolution to open and close said valve, and means for compelling a dwell in the closing movement of said handle,

said means being active solely at a point when the valve is approximately 90% closed,

thereby avoiding shock from over-quick closure.

I p 3. Infire apparatus,the combination of an injector, a pipe conducting water under suction producing velocity to saidinjector, as

hopper adapted to contain dry chemicals to be sucked into the water by said injector, and 

